Art House Director
Broken Social Scene Lyrics


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Art house director, art house director
We lost magic light until tomorrow night
Art house director, art house director
Make the waters part into an empty heart

It's been like a joke
Every step of the way
Is there something to coax?
The truth of the day

Defeat deflector, defeat deflector
The rushes will not lie, I swear this is your guy
And the starlet is a harlot she does not leave the trailer
She thinks that you're a jailer
Or someone that delayed her

It's been like a joke
Every step of the way
Is there something to coax?
The truth of the day

I never meant for it to be that way
But since I have your attention
I'll just give you what you want
And maybe I'll be in your trailer

Canon connector, purist protector
All the fun fell through, we can't escape the gloom
And the starlet is a harlot she will not leave the trailer
She says that you betrayed her with a surfer from Australia

It's been like a joke
Every step of the way




Is there something to coax?
The truth of the day

Overall Meaning

The song "Art House Director" by Broken Social Scene is a commentary on the nature of the film industry and the various issues that come with it. The repeated refrain of "art house director" emphasizes the idea of someone who is considered to be a great artistic force, but may not necessarily have the ability or desire to connect with the audience.


The first verse discusses the loss of "magic light" until the next day, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the loss of creativity and inspiration. The director must find a way to "make the waters part" and create something meaningful even if they are feeling hollow inside. The second verse introduces the idea of deception and manipulation in the industry. The "defeat deflector" is someone who is able to manipulate the footage to make it appear better than it actually is. The starlet, meanwhile, is a victim of the industry, trapped in her trailer by the director who she sees as an oppressor.


The chorus repeats the idea of the journey being a "joke," questioning whether there is anything that can coax out the truth. The third verse introduces the concept of the "canon connector" and "purist protector," who value the history and integrity of film. However, even they cannot escape the "gloom" of the industry. The starlet accuses the director of betrayal with a surfer from Australia, suggesting that even the most seemingly stable relationships in the industry can falter.


Overall, "Art House Director" criticizes the film industry's treatment of its actors and creators and questions whether anything genuine can come out of such a commercialized process.


Line by Line Meaning

Art house director, art house director
Addressing the individual in charge of a small, often independently run theater that shows avant-garde movies or films that are not typically shown in mainstream cinemas.


We lost magic light until tomorrow night
The projector used in the theater has malfunctioned and will not display images till the next day.


Make the waters part into an empty heart
Metaphorically asking the director to create a spectacle or something awe-inspiring that will elicit an emotional response from the audience.


Defeat deflector, defeat deflector
Urging the director to overcome any obstacles that may come in their way, particularly during the movie-making process.


The rushes will not lie, I swear this is your guy
Assuring the director that the footage captured during the filming process is genuine and authentic and that the individual they have chosen for the role is the right fit for the character.


And the starlet is a harlot she does not leave the trailer
Referring to an actress who is difficult to work with, demanding and/or temperamental, who has refused to come out of her trailer.


She thinks that you're a jailer or someone that delayed her
Implying that the actress feels she is being trapped, held off, or otherwise delayed by the director or others involved in the production.


I never meant for it to be that way
The director acknowledging that the situation is not ideal and expressing regret for any role they may have played in creating it.


But since I have your attention I'll just give you what you want
Despite the initial complication, the director is now determined to turn things around by appeasing the actress and giving her what she desires to make the production process much smoother.


And maybe I'll be in your trailer
The director is willing to go the extra mile to please the actress by joining her in the trailer, whether to converse or collaborate with her, or as a symbolic gesture of goodwill.


Canon connector, purist protector
Using a metaphor to describe the director as being someone who connects different styles of film, while still maintaining a level of artistic integrity and protecting the authenticity of the work produced.


All the fun fell through, we can't escape the gloom
A downturn in the production process, with creative or practical failings leading to a sense of despair and/or disappointment from those involved.


She says that you betrayed her with a surfer from Australia
The actress is showing a heightened level of paranoia or delusion, accusing the director of some sort of misdeed with an individual from a faraway land.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, ARTS & CRAFTS MUSIC INC DBA GALLERYAC MUSIC
Written by: BRENDAN CANNING, CHARLES SPEARIN, DAVID WHITEMAN, JOHN MCENTIRE, JUSTIN PEROFF, KEVIN DREW, LISA LOBSINGER, SAM GOLDBERG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Aniac Atsocad

I love it !

Theo Glasson

come on folks I think I've played this 5 thousand times

lightshinee

Where is Kevin Drew?

Cosmo Leo

Hes the first guy you see in the video, on the synth

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